JD Vance, the Republican senator from Ohio and recent pick as Donald Trump’s running mate, is facing significant public disfavor, according to recent polling data analyzed by CNN’s Harry Enten.
Despite being chosen as Trump’s vice presidential candidate just before the Republican National Convention, Vance, known for his prior career as a venture capitalist, is generating more criticism than support. Many analysts are puzzled by Trump’s choice of a political newcomer from a state he’s likely to win easily.
Enten expressed his confusion about the selection during an appearance on CNN’s OutFront, stating, “Frankly, I don’t really understand the pick.” He highlighted Vance’s negative net favorable rating among American voters, noting it stands at negative six points, a rarity for vice presidential candidates. Enten emphasized that since 1980, no VP pick immediately after a convention has had a negative net rating.
“He is the first vice presidential nominee in recent memory to have a net negative favorable rating right after being selected,” Enten told Erin Burnett. “Typically, these nominees are quite popular at the outset, but JD Vance seems to be an exception, and it’s dragging Trump’s support down.”
Regarding Vance’s impact on Trump’s electoral prospects, Enten pointed out that despite Vance’s win in the 2022 Senate race in Ohio, he underperformed compared to Trump’s 2020 performance in the state and lagged behind Ohio’s Republican governor by 19 points in 2022.
“In fact,” Enten stated, “he was the worst performing Republican candidate across the board in Ohio that year. His addition to the ticket seems to offer little electoral advantage.”
The polling data underscores Vance’s challenge in gaining public support as Trump’s running mate, highlighting a potentially contentious issue for the upcoming election.
“He was the worst performing Republican candidate in 2022 up and down the ballot in the state of Ohio,” Enten said. “He adds nothing there.”
Watch the clip below via CNN.
